October 2, 2007

Close Your Clothes!

I made this activity book for Lara's birthday. It's made out of old clothes and some Freecycled fabric, and has pages of clothes-fastener activities with facing pages featuring poems about the fasteners. The pages are each stuffed with two layers of felt I had around the house. I cropped the poems (which I wrote) out the pictures, but I am transcribing them under each page. I'm so happy with how it came out! Good thing too, because it took fo-e-vah to make. Why is everything I do so laborious? I think I must just be a very laborious person. Anyway:

“Buttons are delightful doodads,”Says a fishwife who reviews shads.“They will last through any new fads,”States a pair of kangaroo ladsTo their neighbor, Marilou Gladds.

Adds famed button expert Clay Kee: “If you snub them when you wakey,Then you’re making a mistakey,Coming to eat breakfast nakey!”

There are two sides to a zipper,Each side full of little teeth – As you pull the slider upward,They’re connecting underneath!

These small teeth are not for chewing(That your own teeth do with ease) – These teeth keep you warm and toasty,Even in a frosty breeze!

Let’s unwrapThe word “snap”:It can be a beatnik clap,Or a fish biting a scrap,Or some sudden colder weather that requires a shoulder wrap,Or a cookie made of ginger that can break in a mishap,Or an angry little yap,A quick photo of a chap,Or a football hiked behind from beneath the center’s lapOr a task so that is so easy it’s like taking a short nap!

Old MacDonald had a farm (E-I-E-I-O!)And on his farm he worked quite hard (E-I-E-I-O!)He herded his sheep, and he milked his cows,Tended chickens, walked his dog,Every night went for a jog!

Old MacDonald one fine day (E-I-E-I-O!)Didn’t buckle his overalls all the way (E-I-E-I-O!)How his animals laughed when his pants fell downCows said MOO-ha! Pigs said OINK-ha!And his doggie barked a WOOF-WOOF-ha-ha!

They sent a new dress to the Duchess of Veldt,A dress that was loose and too baggy, she felt.To make it fit better and make her seem svelte,The shrewd Duchess cinched up her waist with a belt!

A man and his dog were out walking one dayThrough a field of dry grass that looked kind of like hay.Then later he petted his doggie’s soft furWhere a grass seed was stuck, a seed known as a burr.

He looked at the seed – it was covered in hooksThat held tight to the dog hair’s looped crannies and nooks.Inspired, he made hook and loop strips to useAs buckles (called Velcro) for everyone’s shoes.

The silky curls and swirls in Lara’s hairAre golden, hazel, auburn – scarcely brown – When loose, they gleam in ribbons in midair,Twisting themselves into a copper crownOf knots and tangles that a comb despair;It’s better in the wind to clip them down.

My Goodness - what a response and deservedly so! The book came out so wonderfully, the poems explain and illustrate the pictures (or is it the other way around?)with wit and humor so wonderfully that I already re-read everything 4 times. Looking forward to more re-reading!!! and thank you again for a personalized entry :)

Saw your creations on the refashion website, and really loved the concept book! I'll get going on making one for my nieces' son who will be 2 in May, so I've got some time yet. Would I be allowed to borrow some of your poems?X Thanks

My goodness...I am in awe. Complete and total amazement! This is not only the best idea I have seen in ages (I LOVE how you can display some of your favorite outgrown but treasured clothing from your little ones) but is also done so beautifully! The poems are amazing as well and so creative! I cannot believe how amazing this is! Wonderful job! I am always trying to find a way to "use" my DD's outgrown baby clothes and this takes first place! Great job!

Hi Anna, I'm writing an article about your wonderful book to be included on http://www.clothdiapernews.com I'd like permission to use your pictures in the article. Please contact me at kristy@weewilliewinks.com to approve. Thank you!!

Hi there! Thank you so much for posting your intelligent poetry and lovely book up here!! I was looking around for so long regarding soft books and stumbled onto your site. The braided beauty inspired me...check it out: http://angeldroppings.blogspot.com/2008/09/soft-fabric-activity-book.html

I'd love to know what you think. Thanks again for the inspiration! :) ~Lisa

I have had the link to your lovely book on my comp for ages now... it's the first on my list. I was going to sew one with a friend using yours as a guide. We still haven't gotten around to it...I have everything I need including a new baby so I should just stop and do it hehe It will never amount to the beauty of yours but it will be cherished.

WOW!! I'm having to scrape my jaw up off of the floor. This is fabulous!! I posted a link to your project on Craft Gossip Sewing:http://sewing.craftgossip.com/lookie-what-she-made-close-your-clothes-busy-book/2009/08/15/--Anne

I found this via somedaycrafts.blogspot.com and wow what a great idea! I'm just about to start making a quiet book for my kids and now I have inspiration for a second one (and boy does my 3rd old need help in this dept.)!

This is especially great because it's using stuff that's already got "functions" so it's easier to make and very eco-friendly/thrifty. Love it!

I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

Hiya, I just found this book and it is soo awesome. I am making a quiet book for my best friend and thought I would make some clothes pages inspired by you. I have a question how did you attach the clothes to the fabric? From the pics I can't see any stitches along the edges and it looks just awesome. Thank you. gypsythieves@yahoo.com

This is my favorite quiet book to date! I am starting one now. I was in tears going through all of my little girl's baby clothes. I am excited to actually be able to use them though! I am also wondering if you wouldn't mind sharing a few more tips on making my own. babymegs99@hotmail.com Thanks so much!!

I've just found this idea via the Petit Citron website. Absolutely Brilliant, what a fantastic idea and a wonderful way to make a keepsake while teaching your children useful skills. You are one very talented lady. THANK for sharing with gorgeous project idea.

I like the idea of the cloth book with old baby clothes and shoes. My mom did the same thing with mine. She could not give them away because she made them herself. I still have the book with me and I am planning to do the same with my son’s clothes and give it to him when he is older. Perhaps this is a start of another family tradition.

Just so extremely clever you are so talented. In awe love the poems so clever. Have you ever thought of selling the tutorial for the book and copyrighting your poems?Lucky little Lara. Congratulations!

I pinned this one pinterest!!!!! And totally love it!I am so going to make this! It is a "labor" of love that is for sure!But will be loved for many years to come!Lara must love it! Thanks for sharing this lovely gift!

I just found this and it is such a darling idea and so long since you first posted it. I have two grandsons 17 months and 14 months and would like to start this now. Not sure of how you bond the book together. Would love some tips

A cute quiet busy book and poetry to boot! You are quite creative. I first saw your book on Facebook when a girlfriend shared it, then I followed the link to "Totally Green crafts" to you! I'm gonna pin if you don't mind!